“Hey, I’m a girl and we like to play dress-up.” – Charlize Theron

_________________________

My desire to play dress-up started when I was little. I would raid my mother’s clothes, my grandmother’s costume jewelry, my aunt’s shoe collection, and I would mash together some pretty unique outfits. Sometimes I jammed my brother into said outfits and make him parade around with me. As I grew a little older, I wanted to look like certain characters and people, especially when my family went to themed places. I didn’t go to Disney for the first time until I was in middle school and I’m pretty sure I still tried to dress the part – bedazzled Disney shirts, princess-y skirts and jewelry, you get the idea. The thing is, it’s pretty difficult to wear full Disney costume as an adult (unless you work there. I’m jealous of you if you’re a Princess) at the park and have it work.

This dress doesn’t work quite as well on adults  😦

Why should kids have all the fun though? Can’t us big kids dress up too? I think the trick is finding outfits and makeup that show your love of a character (or characters) but that don’t look like they belong on a five-year old. I picked a classic Disney character for my inspriration today – Minnie! She’s cute, fun, and iconic Disney.

Courtesy of Disney Coloring

First up – outfits! The parks can get pretty hot and involve a lot of walking, so I wanted to choose comfortable outfits that are both cute and functional. For my first Minnie outfit, I went a little retro-teenage with a longer crop top and shorts that you could style as high-waisted or longer legged, depending on the size/fit you buy. A small cross-body or shoulder bag holds essentials without weighing you down or getting in your way.

What if you want a more grown-up but classic Minnie? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered – and this one includes some accessories!

You could also throw in some more pops of red and yellow to get more Minnie color. I decided to stay a little basic with colors because I would rock the second outfit with the makeup look below. You want your makeup to last through a hot and humid park day, and not to spend a lot of time putting it together. I used my fingers to blend foundation across my face and set it with a light dusting of bronzer. I brushed a little shimmering blush onto the apples of my cheeks and swiped a shimmery golden primer across my lids. I put on some waterproof mascara and used a hybrid lipstick/stain for bright color with lasting power. I love hot pink, but I think red would be perfect for a Minnie outfit too. Five minutes and done! Next, I pulled my hair up because long hair can get hot and tangled after hours of sun and rides. Voila! Disney makeup to last the day in ten minutes. Easy peasy.

Mine is a little messy. Don’t judge.

I used these tried and true products to get my look –

I hope you feel inspired to try a fun character-inspired look the next time you’re in the parks! Remember, dressing up in character-inspired looks and channeling your inner Disney isn’t just for the kids – grown-ups can share in the fun too.  🙂

Courtesy of carerunners.com

(A note from Krista: Today’s post is brought to you by the fabulous Jay over at WayfaringBeauty.com! Perhaps you remember Jay from her previous makeup related guest posts here on Disneyways, including how to wear a makeup look that lasts while you are at Disney! Thank you Jay for another wonderful contribution, you are amazing and I appreciate you SO much!)